GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 18/6

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said the Vietnamese Government was determined to strengthen co-operation with Morocco through boosting investment.

Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance Nizar Baraka said the agreement would help increase the flow of trade and investment between the two countries.

He said through this agreement, the Moroccan Government wanted to lure more foreign investment from Viet Nam.

The agreement is expected to open up opportunities for businesses in both countries.

On the same day, Deputy Minister Son met Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation Saad Dine El Otmani to discuss measures to strengthen co-operation between the two countries.

Russian envoy receives culture, sports insignia

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Friday presented the insignia "For the Cause of Culture, Sports and Tourism" to Russian Ambassador Andrey G. Kovtun.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh spoke highly of the Russian ambassador's contributions to developing culture, sports and tourism co-operation between the two countries.

The two countries had organised a number of Russian cultural days in Viet Nam and Vietnamese days in Russia, he said, adding that Russia was now one of the top 10 markets of Viet Nam's tourism.

Anh said he hoped Ambassador Kovtun would continue working to support Viet Nam in cultural and art training and provide scholarships for Vietnamese postgraduates.

He also hoped the Russian Government would help promote the number of Russian tourists to Viet Nam to 300,000 by 2014.

For his part, Ambassador Kovtun vowed to make more efforts in strengthening the friendship and co-operation between the two countries, especially in the field of culture, sports and tourism.

Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association reviews activities

The Hanoi branch of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association held a congress on June 17 to review its activities in the last five years and elect a new executive board.

Delegates praised the organization’s good achievements recorded in recent years, meeting the demands and aspirations of volunteer experts, who formerly served in Cambodia.

Its activities have helped strengthen the close relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia, according to a report presented at the meeting.

The charge d’affaires at the Cambodian embassy in Vietnam, Samthan, confirmed that the great sacrifices and assistance given by the Vietnamese Party, State and people, particularly the experts and voluntary soldiers during the wars, has helped Cambodia make significant achievements in its national construction and development.

Delegates also discussed programmes to commemorate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and celebrate Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2012.

Vietnamese intellectuals in Japan to help in bilateral ties

The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan held a meeting with Vietnamese intellectuals in Japan on June 16 to seek their cooperation in boosting scientific and technological ties between the two countries.

Addressing the meeting, Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung said the Vietnamese Party and State consider national industrialisation and modernisation as an important political task for economic development and the goal of a wealthy people, a strong country and a just, democratic and civilised society.

For this task, the Party and State pay special attention to attracting foreign investment and absorbing the world’s latest technology.

He said he hoped the meeting will help strengthen the coordination among the Vietnamese experts’ community in Japan as well as bolster their assistance for the home country.

Professor Tran Van Tho from Waseda University said Vietnam boasts rich human and natural resources and good development potential in various fields, which are favourable conditions for the transfer of scientific and technological advances.

He suggested that Vietnam further improve investment policies and environment to attract more investment capital and technology from Japan.

Dr Ho Tu Bao from Japan’s Science and Technology Institute said Vietnam should build good working environment for intellectuals and promote cooperation between the two countries’ universities and research institutes.

The participants, many of whom are university lecturers, researchers and technicians at major economic groups, suggested models for scientific and technological cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, including direct cooperation between small and medium sized enterprises under the sponsorship of the two governments.